Deposit 18,000 $ and get your bike, Tibetan world tour biker told

September 26, 2010

Tenzin Tsering
Phayul
September 23, 2010

Dharamsala, Sep. 23 -- The Tibetan biker, on his
last leg of Free Tibet World Tour, still
continues to run around for help in releasing his
bike which has been in the custody of the Indian
Customs Officials in Chennai since 15 September.

Chennai has the largest port in Bay of Bengal and
is India's second busiest container hub, handling
automobiles, motorcycles and general industrial cargo.

"I am having problem with certain documents in
India. The process here is different than in the
other countries. I am asked to pay a bond for $18,000 here," said Lhakpa.

Lhakpa has biked through 22 countries in 4
different continents spreading awareness about
Tibet abd garnering support for Tibet. His last
destination before India was Australia.

His tour currently stands suspended as the bike
continues to remain under Chennais Custom office.

"I have to get merchandise passports (Carnet)
from the Canadian Automobile Association. I have
applied for it," Lhakpa told Phayul saying he
didn't require the legal obligation in the other countries.

Lhakpa is reaching out to supporters to help him
deposit an amount of $18,000 to the Canadian Automobile Association.

"Cash will be returned 100% when I finish my tour
through the Company," said Lhakpa, whose bike is
currently at a storage and will remain there for
ten days before it gets shipped back to the USA.

"Earlier the bike was at the Customs Office where
it was charged $100 for three days. Subsequently,
the fee doubles after a period of 6 days," Lhakpa told phayul over the phone.

When asked if he could maintain the schedule of
him concluding the "Free Tibet World Tour" bike
at Dharamsala on the 23rd October, Lhakpa said
that he has two options available and will
"somehow make it Dharamsala on the date."

"If I am not able to procure my bike from the
Customs Office by paying the bond deposit, then I
will rent a bike from Delhi and ride to Dharamsala," said Lhakpa.

The Biker is hopeful that -- if the bond deposit
could be arranged, I will get my bike and resume
my last leg of tour in India which involves
biking from Chennai to Bangalore City, and from
there to Bylakuppe and all the Tibetan
settlements in the South. I will pass by other
Indian cities of Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and reach Dharamsala."